Entrepreneurialism 101
Starting A Business Plan Outline
By Daryl Des Marais
In designing your business plan you will have to define your company, who is managing it, why it exists and how you are going to compete and attract customers. Defining your own business advantages and accentuating them to the marketplace will be key. Operations should be well defined with all start-up costs, whether short-term or long-term. Also define your ROI per $ and you cash flow statement to determine your profitability and necessary innovation or improvement changes you will need in the future.
Below we have designed a backbone FREE business proposal example! One that you can use to begin building a basic outline to connect with partners, clients, consumers, possible investors thereby outlining your business model and creating the brand you will become.
Creating and organizing your business plan can help with leading to potential investors and build partnerships and alliances for your business.
[Company Name]
Company Contact Information
Director's
Business Plan
Mission Statement
A clear statement of your company’s long-term mission.
Try to use words that will help direct the growth of your company, but be as concise as possible.
The Team
List CEO and key management by name
Include previous accomplishments to show these are people with a record of success
Summarize number of years of experience in this field
Market Summary
Market: past, present, & future:
Review those changes in market share, leadership, players, market shifts, costs, pricing, or competition that provide the opportunity for your company’s success.
Opportunities
Problems and opportunities:
State consumer problems, and define nature of product/service opportunities created by those problems.
Business Concept
Summarize key technology, concept or strategy on which your business is based
Competition
Summarize competition
Outline your company’s competitive advantage
Goals & Objectives
Five-year goals
State specific measurable objectives
State market share objectives
State revenue/profitability objectives
Financial Plan
High-level financial plan that defines financial model, pricing assumptions, and reviews yearly expected sales and profits for the next three years.
Use several slides to cover this material appropriately.
Resource Requirements
Technology requirements
Personnel requirements
Resource requirements
Financial, distribution, promotion, etc.
External requirements
Products/services/technology required to be purchased outside company
Risks & Rewards
Risks
Summarize risks of proposed project
Addressing risk
Summarize how risks will be addressed
Rewards
Estimate expected pay-off, particularly if seeking funding
Key Issues
Near term
Isolate key decisions and issues that need immediate or near-term resolution
Long term
Isolate issues needing long-term resolution
State consequences of decision postponement
If you are seeking funding, state specifics
For more information on creating Business Plans some suggested reads are:
http://www.planware.org
http://www.inc.com April 2004 Article
Mr. Des Marais has operated small businesses for over 20 years. He has been a consultant and held positions in some of the fastest growing franchisees in Canada.
He is a private partner in http://www.usabusinessgrowth.com
He has increased sales by 200% in 2 months for an herbal doctor; increased sales by 30% in 4 months for a major Canadian Big Box Retailer; 200% sales increase 3 times in a row for a service-based small business and helped several entrepreneurs develop and sell their business. His expertise is in the area of growth and business development. He has also been involved in developing business chapters.
In terms of Business Development and mentoring Mr. Des Marais has volunteered with S.E.E.D.S mentorship review committee, ACE, YEA.
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